Kiwis Take 29ers Worlds Day 1 Honors

The Alamitos Yacht Club in California is hosting the 29er World Championship and after the day one of the Worlds, it is the Kiwis that have taken an early lead.


The Bravo Course race was an entertaining one with variable and shifty winds creating drama and confusion at the starting line. The Alpha Course did not have any problems with the wind and this resulted in most of the stars to begin without any glitches.

The participants at the 17th Annual 49ers W4old Championships were split into 2 groups and each of the groups had to compete in three races. The racing at the Bravo Course had to be stopped for some time at the start due to oscillating winds. 20 teams had to face premature start disqualifications by the start of the final race.

The ABYC Commodore Chuck Clay said that the courses looked quite apart from each other despite being on the same coastline. The sailors on both the courses encountered different sailing conditions, the wind as well as racing. Jerelyn Biehl, the 29er class executive director, is happy that the event has kicked off in testing race conditions.

A total of 131 teams from all over the world are taking part in the six-day 29er World Championship in California. After day one of the event, it is the New Zealander Scott McKenzie and SebLardes winning on the points table. They just have a very slender lead over the local duo of Jacob Rosenberg and Alie Toppa. Things could change pretty soon as the competition enters the next two days.

The finals will be held from August 3 to August 5 and the final series will comprise of 10 races. There will be trophies given out for the best team overall, top girls team and the top youth team.